little



2 sheets-sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W H LITTLE PGTATO AND SEED PLANTER.

No. 289,672. Patented Deo. 4, 1888.

(No Model.) l 2 sheetsfsheet 2. I W. IH. LITTLE. POTATO AND SEED PLANTBR.

Patented Deof4 PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM H. LITTLE, OF PLATTSBURG, NEW YORK.

POTATO AN D SEED PLANTER.

SPECIFICATON forming part of lLetters Patent No. 289,672, dated December 4, 1883,

Application filed June 12, 1853. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, t may concern..-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM' H. LITTLE, of Plattsburg, in the county-of Clinton and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Potato and Seed Planters; land I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and. exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to planting-machines adapted to plant potatoes, corn, or other small seeds, as desired.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which shall be simplel and inexpensive inits construction, durable and thoroughly reliablein its operation, and adapted to automatically drill a furrow to receive the seed, deliver the latter thereto, regulate the distance between hills, and to finally cover the planted seed and roll the soil upon it, as will be fully set forth.

My invention consists in the improved construction and combinations of parts described and speciiied hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims. j

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with one wheel removed and parts brokenv away. Fig. 3 is a vertical section, and Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate parts in detail.

The frame of the machine consists of the shafts A A, cross-bars B B, and parallel longitudinal supports C C, the latter being se` cured to the under side of the bars B B.

D represents the axle of the machine, upon which are mounted the carrying-wheels E E.

F represents a ratchet-wheel rigidly secured to the inner end of the hubvof the wheel E, to turn therewith, for a purpose which will be explained.

A hopper-shaped box, G, is secured centrally upon the machine between the cross# bars B B, and within this box is arranged a feed-tube, H, whose lowerend projects below and is secured between the supports C C, and is adapted to fit within the upper end of a tube, H. The latter is secured to a furrowtooth, I, pivoted between the forward ends of the bars B B by a pivot-bolt, i, and provided with an operating bell-crank lever, J, fulcrumed on the frame, and whose inner end is bent downwardly to engage a link, j, on the tooth I is beveled to adapt it to enter the ground, and the lower end of the tube H is correspondingly beveled. The toothI is connected to the shafts A A by chain-braces K l. Between the rear ends of the supports C C is secured a block, L, to which is pivoted a frame consisting of two parallel bars, ZZ. Between the lower ends of these bars Z Z is mounted a roller, M, upon a shaft, m, and upon the outer side of each bar Z is secured a coveringwing, Z2. A lever, N, secured to the upper end of one of the bars Z, affords a means for raising the pivoted frame with its coveringwings and roller.

O represents the operators seat, secured to the rear ends of the supports C O by means of arms 0 o and a supporting-bail, o', the latter being designed to bear upon the upper ends of the bars Z Z, as shown, to throw the weight of the operator upon the roller M.

To the outer side of the rear end of the shaft A, adjacent to the ratchet-wheel F, is secured a metallic plate, I", having at its rear end a perforated lug, 10, to which is pivoted the rear end of an arm, Q, whose forward end is weighted, and adapted to strikea projection,

near its rear end and on its under side with a of the ratchet-wheel F.

The crank-shaft R is supported horizontally in staples r r on the rear. side of the forward cross-bar, B, and its outer end is bent to form the projection @while its angular inner arm or crank, of, is connected by a link, s, to an arm, s', of a crank-shaft, S. This shaftY S is supported in slots s2 s2, formed in the upper end of the feed-tube H, and its free arm s3 is bent at a right angle to .the arm s', and provided with a weight, T.

U represents a valve secured centrally to the shaft S, so as to close the upper end of the tube H. The valve U is formed by two plates, u u', arranged at a right angle to each other.

The machine constructed as thus far described is adapted to plant potatoes, and its operation is as follows: The operator .feeds front of the tooth I. yThe lower end of theV pawl or catch, q, adapted to engage the teeth o', of a crank-shaft, R. This arm Q is formed IOC 2 essere the tube II by hand, placing the potatoes on that I do not limit myself to the precise conthe inner plate of the valve, u, as often as said struction shown and described, but reserve to plate is presented to View. The rotation of the ratchet-wheel F operates, by contact with the pawl g, to raise the arm Q. When the latter is raised, the weight T of the shaft S serves to raise the upper plate, u, of the valve, to allow the deposit of the potatoes upon the plate u. As the ratchet-wheel F continues its rotation, the tooth which has raised the arm Q will pass the catch q, thus causing the arm Q (which is weighted) to drop, striking the projection o" of the shaft R, thus turning the latter and (through the medium of the link s) the shaft S, and causing the upper plate of the valve, u, to close the tube H. Thus a uniform feed is insured, and the distance apart of the hills is predetermined and regulated by the teeth of the wheel F. The furrow-tooth I forms a furrow, into which the potatoes are deposited through the tubes II and H, and the wings Z2 Z2 cover the same, after which the roller M rolls the earth upon them.

For sowing corn or small seeds I have provided a hopper, V, supported above the box G by arched braces e n. This hopperV is provided with a double bottom, WV, the upper section, w, of which has a feedopening, w', formed adjacent to the rear side of the hopper, while the lower section, 102, is formed with a central opening, w3. A perforated feed slide, X, slides between the bottom sections and carries the seed from the opening w to the discharge-opening zo, .through which it passes to the valve U.

The feed-slide X is operated by means of a crank-shaft, Y, supported horizontally upon a bar, y, secured to the front side of the box G. One arm, ij, of said shaft passes through a perforation of the slide, while the other arm, y, is bent to engage a loop, z, formed upon the upper side of the weighted arm Q. Thus at every upward movement of the arm Q the seed-slide is drawn forward, and the seedis deposited upon the lower plate, u, of the valve U, which will be in readiness to receive the seed as it drops from the hopper V.

It will be apparent that many slight changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the 4spirit of my invention; hence I would have it understood myself the right to make all such slight changes and alterations as may properly fall Within the scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, wh at I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, with the box and the feedtube arranged therein, of a weighted crank-shaft and double valve, a ratchet-wheel secured to one of the carrying-wheels ofthe machine', a pivoted weighted arm having a catch to engage said ratchet-wheel, a crank-shaft secured to the frame and provided with a pro-v jcction to receive the contact of the weighted arm, and a link connecting the two crankshafts, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the supportingframe, of a pivoted frame carrying a roller and covering-wings, and an operators seat provided with a supporting-bail adapted to bear on the pivoted frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the box G audits feedtube, valve, and crankshaft, of a hopper arranged above said box, said hopper having a double bottom formed with seed-openings, a seedslide, a crank-shaft secured at one end to said slide, while its opposite end is connected with the pivoted weighted arm which operates the valve of the fced-tube, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the box G and the seed hopper and slide, of a bar secured to said boX and supporting a crank-shaft for operating said slide, a ratchet-wheel secured to one ofthe carrying-wheels ofthe machine, a weighted pivoted arm provided with a catch to engage said ratchet wheel, and intermediate mechanism, substantially as described, for simultaneously. operating the valve and seedslide.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

W'ILLIAM I-I. LITTLE.

VitnesSeS:

G. B. Moni-rousu, XV. H. CnArrnL. 

